Rhabdogaster major Oldroyd, 1970

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 266

Rhabdogaster major Oldroyd, 1970

Figs 55–58

Rhabdogaster major Oldroyd, 1970: 280 , 281, fig. 52 male genitalia; 1980: 367 (catalogue). Type locality:

DR Congo (Garamba National Park, Mt Ndogo).

Redescription: Based on holotype ơ (see note below).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose.Antenna: Scape and pedicel dark red-brown to black (terminal segments missing), setae white. Face entirely pruinose. Mystax entirely white, occupying approx. lower half of face. Frons extensively pruinose, vertex entirely apruinose (including ocellar tubercle). Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum largely shiny apruinose, except for lateral parts and large silver pruinose area posterior of postpronotal lobes. Pleura pruinose except for large apruinose spot on anepisternum. Scutellum apruinose except for anterior margin, with approx. 8 weak white sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc, fem, tib and tar dark red-brown (tib and tar slightly lighter than fem), setae predominantly white but black ones present on tib (ventrodistally) and tar (mostly ventrally). Wing 4.6 x 1.7 mm, veins brown, membrane transparent, unstained, microtrichia cover distal parts while proximal cells are mostly bare. Discal cell weakly microtrichose, costal cell entirely without microtrichia.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose.Tergites 1–5 extensively apruinose except for anterolateral margins. Sternites entirely pruinose. Terminalia ( Figs 55–58 ) appearing asymmetrical due to being damaged: epand in lateral view longer than external lobe of goncx, but shorter than hypd, tapering to acute tips; in dorsal view lobes separated but touching proximomedially; hypd in lateral view curved with upturned distal end, longer than external lobe of goncx and epand; in ventral view somewhat truncate proximally, tapering gradually distally and terminating in a long process with broadly-rounded apex. In lateral view external lobe of goncx tapering gradually to moderately acute tip. Internal lobe of goncx projecting beyond level achieved by external lobe.

Variation: ^similar but face apruinose centrally.

Holotype:ơ DR CONGO: ‘Paratypus’ [orange with black border], ‘ Congo Belge, P/N.G.[Garamba National Park – 0410N:2930E] / Miss. H. De Saeger / Mt. Ndogo, 15-III-1950 / Réc. H.De Saeger. 308’, ‘ Rhabdogaster ^/ major Oldroyd / det. H. Oldroyd 1966 / Paratype’ [white] (MRAC).

Paratype: DR CONGO: 1^‘Holotypus’ [orange with black border], ‘ Congo Belge, P/N.G. / Miss. H. De Saeger / Inimvua, 16-v-1952 / H. De Saeger. 3480’, ‘ Rhabdogaster ơ / major Oldroyd / det. H. Oldroyd 1966 / Holotype’ [white] (MRAC).

Note : The localities Mt Ndogo and Inimvua , both in the Garamba National Park, have not been traced in available gazetteers. Oldroyd (1970) lists a male holotype from Inimvua and a female paratype with the same data as the holotype. However, the female, from Inimvua, is labelled as holotype, but carries a label stating that the specimen is a male. The male, which has different label data, carries a label stating that the specimen is a female. I have decided not to swap the labels around but consider the male to be the holotype as intended by Oldroyd. The type locality is not Inimvua, but Mt Ndogo .

Other material studied: DR CONGO: 1ơ 1^‘B. Congo: 41 / mi. S. Idiofa [0502S:1936E] / viii-8-57’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded from three places in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Collected in March, May and August.

Similar species: R. xanthokelis sp. n., lindneri sp. n. and oresbios sp. n.

Figures

Figs 55–67. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (55–58) R. major Oldroyd, 1970, damaged Mt Ndogo holotype: (55) lateral (left side), (56) dorsal, (57) ventral, (58) lateral (right side); (59–61) R. melas sp. n., Cathedral Peak holotype: (59) lateral, (60) dorsal, (61) ventral; (62–64) R. nitida Hull, 1967, Royal Natal Nat. Park: (62) lateral, (63) dorsal, (64) ventral; (65–67) R. nuda Loew, 1858, ‘Cap. B. Sp.’ holotype: (65) lateral, (66) dorsal, (67) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.